"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauronís master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded b*****d with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.

What does everyone else think? Where we see Orky and Glamie, does Glamdring seem to be aged/dirty in the same manor as Orcrist does? It's hard for me to tell, but it kinda' looks like it to me, so maybe they will both be found in the troll cave as in the book. (crossing fingers this is the case....and hoping at least one of them will glow at some point)

"There is a long road yet," said Gandalf. "But it is the last road," said Bilbo.

We've speculated before that the reason Stott (Balin) hasn't been interviewed/seen that much is because he is one of the major Dwarves in the film (not really seen RA or MF either).

Either that or he's shy

Hm, why might being one of the major dwarves in the film make someone less apt to be interviewed/seen?

But yeah, there isn't a lot on Richard Armitage or Martin Freeman, either. More on Freeman than Armitage.

…all eyes looked upon the ring; for he held it now aloft, and the green jewels gleamed there that the Noldor had devised in Valinor. For this ring was like to twin serpents, whose eyes were emeralds, and their heads met beneath a crown of golden flowers, that the one upheld and the other devoured; that was the badge of Finarﬁn and his house.

While I don't agree with Sinister's opinion there's really no need for anyone to start attacking Sinister for having a different opinion. This isn't imdb. This should be a place where everyone can voice their opinion without someone jumping at them. -Sir are you classified as human -Negative, I am a meat-popsicle

I tried very hard to stay out of camera for any behind the scenes stuff. I wasn't working on the films and wasn't part of the story. Plus, I usually tried to stand by them and take photos. I have no choice but to believe in free will.

As someone who's also worked on Hollywood sets before...
[In reply to]

Can't Post

I totally agree with everything you just said. I'm sure the film industry down in Wellington isn't perfect, but the attitudes that PJ's crews have is great. I would argue, though, that this has as much to do with the can-do, do-anything culture in NZ as it does the fact that they are working on a really great project.

Andrew Lesnie said in the commentary of Fellowship of the Ring that he feels that filmmakers are nomads who go from shoot to shoot/production to production seeking good pay and good working environments. Crews don't get that a lot in Hollywood, where the projects are increasingly becoming product-based and everything is about the bottom line (i.e. every, single, movie Hasbro has put out since 2007).

Say what you will about LOTR, but it's a film series made with passion and heart by filmmakers who are more concerned with giving the audience a good, entertaining film than pushing some toy line or soft drink down our throats.

... after all it was Liv being uncomfortable with the warrior princess idea that helped change PJ's mind about that.

I always hope that a movie team had a good time working to make a movie, just as I hope everyone gets a job they love. Not really sure how a happy movie crew could hurt the making of a movie. Good morale is important for any team, in my humble opinion.

The Avengers got a 93% because it did its job, it entertained the vast majority of the people who saw it. 'nuff said there. Who are you who can summon fire without flint or tinder?

I hope that it's Brett Beattie and not Dean O Groman as FilI with that high pitched 'Gloin'.As a Dwarf,Fili should sound, more Gruff. We are more connected than ever before, more able to spread our ideas and beliefs, our anger and fears. As we exercise the right to advocate our views, and as we animate our supporters, we must all assume responsibility for our words and actions before they enter a vast echo chamber and reach those both serious and delirious, connected and unhinged.

I mean, the fact that the crew is so collaborative, happy, humorous, and friendly just like they were while filming LotR makes me the happiest person on earth!

How many films can boast a director like Peter Jackson? Whatever your feelings are towards his style and the choices he makes, you have to admit how much he cares about the films, how much he cares about us (the fans) and how much he cares about his cast and crew. What a humble, kind, and personable man - still after all these years and all of his successes, he is still willing to do something like this for us.

I will never lose sight of how incredibly lucky we are to have The Hobbit in this group of people's hands and everything they do for us. I couldn't have created a better scenario even if I wanted to!

And I agree with you Alientraveller - I have had this account for several years but NEVER post (always lurk) because sometimes there is too much negativity for my liking (but there are also loads of kind, wonderful people here too).

But I simply cannot contain how amazingly grateful I am to have these movies being created by such a wonderful, incredible group of individuals that would pretty much do anything for us! These vlogs are always the absolute highlight of my day and I always love every single second of them!

Alright, off to go figure out a way to go to the premiere this November with TORn!

its the attitude to accept the films being made, no matter how many changes get made that bothers me ( And I totally mean nothing personal and mean no offense) An adaptation of a film should at least resemble the book for the majority of it, as far as plot, tone, character development, and such. But when you start changing aspects of the book because you feel they don't have enough action or drama, such as dwarfs hanging out of barrels and yelling at each other while going down the rapids, or trollshaws becoming an action sequence (granted the dwarfs could have came in 2 separate groups the first one getting snatched up in sacks without resistance and the second being more cautious and fighting back)... The book had something to it that flowed well and would have made a great film with minor tweaks without making major changes. Adding the DolGuldur subplot is fine (depending on how well and close to Tolkien's style it is written and if the underplay the ring and the Necromancer as Sauron) and would have been enough to bring the film into the same realm as the LOTR. I'm even cool with a Legolas cameo or minor role, but to make him a major player is another flaw already IMO.

But it is the people who are willing to just accept anything the director wants put into the films, or change things cannon to the books such as character development, and plot course to make it more action packed, or dramatic than it was in the book. The hobbit book had all the elements already in place to be a complete success without any major changes being made...

its the attitude to accept the films being made, no matter how many changes get made that bothers me...it is the people who are willing to just accept anything the director wants put into the films, or change things cannon to the books such as character development, and plot course to make it more action packed, or dramatic than it was in the book

I'm curious as to why opinions held by someone else bother you so much? Clearly, many people are ecstatic with what they've seen so far. To many, what they've seen *does* resemble the book and they aren't bothered at all by rapids, trollshaws, etc. It doesn't diminish their love for Tolkien or their appreciation of the books. It doesn't mean that they don't realize some things are deviations from Tolkien, it just plain doesn't bother them.

I can certainly see being bothered by some of the changes PJ is making - again, it's opinion but, being bothered that someone else doesn't feel the same way seems like an exercise in futility. Live and let live. Koru: Maori symbol representing a fern frond as it opens. The koru reaches towards the light, striving for perfection, encouraging new, positive beginnings.

"Life can't be all work and no TORn" -- jflower

"I take a moment to fervently hope that the camaradarie and just plain old fun I found at TORn will never end" -- LOTR_nutcase

It *is* a very exciting time, to be sure. I'm glad you de-lurked to share your feelings with us and wish you the best of luck in your preparations to go to Middle-earth! Koru: Maori symbol representing a fern frond as it opens. The koru reaches towards the light, striving for perfection, encouraging new, positive beginnings.

"Life can't be all work and no TORn" -- jflower

"I take a moment to fervently hope that the camaradarie and just plain old fun I found at TORn will never end" -- LOTR_nutcase

they are certainly entitled to that... its just the general attitude of any changes which will certainly have a chain effect that are made are ok. If more people who enjoy the source material would say or send a meesage to filmmakers who alter books to the point of changing the context and feel of certain chapters or in worst case scenarios the feel of the film as a whole that maybe they should take another look at the source material, maybe we would end up with a more faithful adaptation of great literary works.

Changing the events of the barrel ride changes the way they arrive at Laketown, makes the riddles that Bilbo gives to Smaug make less sense like barrel rider, (Well I guess if you want to get technical I rides IN a barrel), I am he that buries his friends alive and drowns them and draws them alive again from the water... So now with open barrels we get, "I am he who rides the Raging Rapids Barrel ride with his friends, has a photo taken, and gets a t-shirt at Six Flaggs"?... I'm just a firm believer in not making any changes that aren't needed or wont cause further changes down the road which the barrel sequence as PJ has it even from what we have seen so far does that (causes changes further down the road)... I can see enhancing the way it was explained in the book (rapids) but not changing it to open barrels

Besides how would barrels float strictly upright, down a river, with rapids, having the lids on, with the dwarfs able to open them without them filling with water and sinking to the bottom of the river? we will have to wait and see I guess. I just think they need to be careful of changes that cause more changes further in the films

But of course everyone is entitled to their opinion but they should look at the facts of the story compared to the facts of whats being filmed completely different

its just the general attitude of any changes which will certainly have a chain effect that are made are ok ... they should look at the facts of the story compared to the facts of whats being filmed completely different

I think it's safe to say that everyone here *is* looking at the facts (at least the ones we know about so far - out of the context of the finished film), otherwise they wouldn't be here discussing them. They just plain don't bother some people. But, it shouldn't bother you that it doesn't bother them. All that really matters in the end is your own opinion and attitude. The fact that someone else is excited and enthusiastic about the films shouldn't affect you one way or the other, nor should your attitude affect them. They're just different and probably always will be.

but I guess I can't understand why people wouldn't want a faithful adaptation instead of one filled with unnecessary changes such as what we have seen from the Barrel scene...All i personally can think of is a Six Flags ride while watching the dwarfs in the barrels from the Vlog... I admit, I probably will never agree with someone who feels that unneeded changes are alright to be made. When the original material, if done right, would make for a very tense drama filled scene true to the context and tone of the original source material. It's also something that would not cause needing change to scenes later in the story that will surely be effected by previous changes either that or they won't worry about any continuity between scenes in the actual films themselves. Either way if you change one thing it causes ripples with later events directly connected to the original event that was changed. But if people think thats ok then thats their right...

I'm annoyed to no end about adding romance and female characters in the film. No disrespect to the ladies (they are my favorite of the two sexes) but this demographic pandering is nonsense. There aren't any Asians, Blacks, gays or Latins in the story and I don't see the film catering to them. And you know what? They shouldn't have to because it just happens to be a story void of women and romance & ethnic people. I'm certainly not for habitually keeping certain demographics out of film but not everyone needs to be in every film all the time. This is a classic story and I'm willing to bet women would come and enjoy TH and not even give it a second thought if they hadn't added these unnecessary changes. Adding females and romance to a story where there is none is an insult, I would say, to females. I mean, what about me?!? Did they add Viggo to please me?! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Just the same I'm still going into to this giving the filmmaking team the benefit of the doubt because I think they've earned it at this point. Davy Jones could've been Bilbo...I mean he was a Brit with a sense for adventure, singing & dancing. And think of the costs it would've save with forced perspective: he was ACTUALLY 5'3. He also hung out with a grumpy tall dude in a hat (Mike Nesmith.) While we're at it let's just have Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork as Merry & Pippin.